Swimmers of all ages at Meadowside Leisure Centre in Burton are being urged to take the plunge and help raise funds for two of the largest cancer charities in the country.

The fund-raising initiative is part of the national 'Swimathon' event taking place across three days from Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29.

Participants are being challenged to complete individual lengths of 400 metres, 1.5 kilometres, 2.5 kilometres and 5 kilometres, or team distances of 1.5 kilometres or 5 kilometres whilst attracting sponsorship for each attempt.

The national Swimathon event began in 1988, with more than 700,000 participants in around 1,000 different pools up and down the country, raising more than £48 million for various charities.

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Both Meadowside Leisure Centre, in High Street, Burton and Uttoxeter Leisure Centre, in Oldfields Road, Uttoxeter will be hosting the swim in Staffordshire in April.

President of Swimathon and winner of an Olympic gold medal at the 1980 Moscow games, Duncan Goodhew said: "It has been a real joy to see Swimathon develop into the great event it is today, and raise so much money for so many worthwhile charities.

"Swimathon really gives people a chance to get active with friends and family, whilst doing some good at the same time.

"I am so proud that Swimathon gives so many people the chance to enjoy the water."

Meadowside Leisure Centre will take part in the swimming event

During this year's Swimathon, the official charity partners will be leading cancer organisations, Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.

Marie Curie helps people living with terminal illness and their family to make the most of the time they have left to spend together.